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Pick-by-Light

Pick-by-Light

picking via pick-by-light

The term pick-by-light is the name for a paperless method of picking . The picker is shown how many items need to be picked at the item's storage location via a display on the corresponding picking compartment.

Table of contents
  1. definition and technique
  2. Advantages
  3. Disadvantages

definition and technique

The pick-by-light process is a paperless picking process in which the picker is shown how many items he has to pick via a display attached to the compartment.

The display, which is attached to the removal compartment, consists of a so-called eye-catching light and an acknowledgement button. The eye-catching light shows how many items are to be removed from the respective compartment. The picker can then use the acknowledgement button to confirm the removal of the products. This means that the inventory change can be transmitted to the respective warehouse management system in real time.

There are different systems, each of which has certain extra functions - for example the following:

  • Alphanumeric display or numeric display; the picker can use this to read the quantity of items removed
  • Correction keys, in the form of + or -, with which missing items can be corrected immediately or which can also be used for inventory work
  • Other special functions

The pick-by-light process is also known by the following synonyms:

  • Pick-to-Light
  • Pick-2-Light (P2L)

By the way: The term Put-to-Light refers to the reverse process!

Advantages

The pick-by-light process offers the following advantages:

  • To train new order pickers, only a short training period is required
  • The time to search for articles is very short due to the visual conspicuity
  • Due to the clear displays, the error rate when picking is very low
  • After removal, a direct feedback is sent to the warehouse management system, so that the inventory is always up to date
  • By acknowledging after removal of the goods or the possibility of correcting shortages, stock shortages generally do not occur
  • Due to the simple design, there are no language barriers
  • No special equipment is required for the order pickers
  • With this method, order pickers have both hands free and are not restricted by additional equipment
  • The lights of the displays make it quickly clear whether and which subjects have already been processed or not
  • No picking errors in the form of incorrectly picked or overlooked items
  • Fewer errors result in higher customer satisfaction

    • Disadvantages

    The pick-by-light process has the following disadvantages or potential problems.

    • An undetected failure of a display results in errors during picking; however, modern systems now detect such failures automatically
    • When setting up and commissioning this process, a large amount of money must be invested in installation work and, over time, in maintenance work
    • The procedure limits the number of orders per zone at the same time; only one order can be processed per zone, unless different colors are used - one color per order and picker

    See also